Photo: Lrgjr72 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Pontiac is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Pontiac differs from Michigan on 28 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pontiac. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pontiac
Every town around Pontiac scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Pontiac’s D, from Waterford Township (B+) to Bloomfield Township (A+). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Pontiac
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.8%), more than twice the Michigan rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.7% vs 8.7%) and housing insecurity (25.6% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 34.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Pontiac
53.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 21.3% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Pontiac is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pontiac is healthier than 5%. Against the 3,770 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 20%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and depression are less common in Pontiac
Pontiac runs below Michigan on cancer (5.3% vs 8.9%) and depression (21.8% vs 25.7%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Michigan figure falls outside Pontiac’s likely range.
What’s behind Pontiac’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pontiac is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #680 of 701 in Michigan. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 16% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Pontiac’s median household income is $44,329; among the 3,770 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pontiac compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32.3% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Pontiac and the towns around it
Pontiac’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac | D | 43.5% | 16% | 20.3% | CDC place |
| Auburn Hills | A− | 31.4% | 8.5% | 12% | CDC place |
| Bloomfield Township | A+ | 27.3% | 9.8% | 7.3% | ZIP codes |
| Waterford Township | B+ | 33.6% | 10.6% | 14% | ZIP codes |
| Lake Angelus | — | — | — | — | |
| Sylvan Lake | A | 30.7% | 9.7% | 9.6% | CDC place |
Lake Angelus: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
34.6% of Pontiac adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pontiac adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Out of every 100 Pontiac adults…
Pontiac runs below MI on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pontiac
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Pontiac, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Pontiac; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves
How Pontiac adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Pontiac runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Pontiac adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pontiac adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pontiac
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pontiac is better than Michigan on 5 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Pontiac’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pontiac | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29%26.6–31.5 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%15–18.2 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.7–22.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.5%39.6–47.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16%14.4–17.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.2%38.6–43.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%29.9–34.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.4%23.4–27.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.7–14.3 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.9–5.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.6–7.9 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.4–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%18.3–24.7 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3%18.2–22.5 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.7%30.5–36.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.4%38–45.2 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.6%12–15.3 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%77.2–82 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.8%50.8–56.8 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.6–85.9 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%74.2–78.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%57.7–65 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%66.6–77.2 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%19.5–24.2 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 37.7%33.8–41.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.1%26.7–33.6 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.8%31.4–38.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.6%22.7–28.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.7%17.6–22 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17%15.2–18.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.6%31.4–37.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%32.4–38.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%16.5–19.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.5–21.1 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.4–9.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.6–13.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%6.3–7.3 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Michigan figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Pontiac
Is Pontiac a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pontiac is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health, #680 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pontiac?
CDC estimates 43.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.6% and 47.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pontiac?
Mclaren Oakland in Pontiac, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Pontiac’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pontiac have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12–15.3%), against 6.9% across Michigan.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Pontiac more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pontiac.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.